Flier for multiple twist twisters



Aug. 23, 1955 w. D. KELLOGG FLIER FOR MULTIPLE TWIST TWISTERS Filed July 17, 1952 INVENTOR. WILLIAM D. KELLOGG ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 0 FLIER non MULTIPLE TWIST TWISTERS William D. Kellogg, Villanova, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application July 17, 1952, Serial No. 299,425

11 Claims. c1. 51-5334 This invention relates to an improved system for twisting yarns, threads, cords, and the like by the multipletwist principle and particularly by the double-twist or two-for-one principle of twisting.

in systems of this type heretofore used, yarn from a supply spool or package passes downwardly through a hollow spindle, then outwardly through a transverse outlet passage near the lower end of the spindle blade or shank. The yarn then passes under a flier and around a storage disc, contacting the under-side of a guard or socalled flier pan which prevents the yarn from engaging the package holder, and then upwardly over a guide to a rotating take-up spool or package usually located above the rotating spindle. Since the spindle is rotating, the primary twist is inserted in the yarn between the supply package and the spindle outlet, and the secondary twist occurs between the spindle outlet and the take-up spool.

Variable tensions which the yarn undergoes in the twisting operation have been a problem in the industry. Attempts have been made to provide apparatus which will overcome the varying tension problems, but the solutions were applicable only to a particular yarn size or weight. The system disclosed in Roberts U. S. Patent 2,559,735 is satisfactory for many types of yarns and packages. However, when more than one complete wrap of the yarn around the storage ring is required, there is an overlapping of the convolutions thereon with risk of damage to the yarn or thread. Also, the tier must be larger in diameter than the package holder so that large fliers are required for large packages which gives rise to high tensions.

In Cochran U. S. Patent 2,560,848, a cylindrical storage ring is used and the yarn enters upon its periphery at its lower edge. Sudden fluctuations in tension, however, tend to cause more or less overlapping of the wraps around the storage ring and yarn damage. Other attempts to overcome the problem for general purposes have been commercially unsuccessful, as will be apparent after the nature of the problem is more fully explained.

A great many variables act on the yarn during the twisting operation, creating variable tensions at different points. For instance, different yarn weight or different physical characteristics of the yarn, such as the texture, afl'ect the tension which occurs in the balloon; also wind resistance of the balloon has a definite eflect on the tension. Additionally, of course, the speed at which the yarn is twisting and taken up on the takeup reel, affects the tensions undergone by the yarn; also at the supply end, the tension varies as the amount of yarn on the supply package decreases. Furthermore, slight imperfections in the wind or build of the supply package create variable instantaneous tensions as the yarn is drawn away from the supply package.

In the course of study of the various tensions which are encountered by the yarn, it has been found that they may roughly be divided into two groups, constituting what might be referred to as primary tension and secondary tension. The primary tension occurs between the supply 2,7 15,8 1 l Patented Aug. 23, 1955 package and transverse outlet of the spindle, and the secondary tension between the transverse outlet and the takeup spool. In operation, if the primary tension is too great, then the yarn will twist apart or break. If, on the other hand, the secondary tension is too great, the yarn will become overstressed and may break.

it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved system employing a flier having or as sociated with a storage ring or disc so related to the outlet of the flier from which the yarn proceeds to the storage disc as to assure the displacement of the Wraps of yarn about the storage disc in a generally helical fashion so that one convolution or wrap of yarn does not overlap another within it. By so constructing the flier, it is assured that subsequent wraps of yarn cannot overlap preceding laps on the storage ring of the flier with the result that improved control of secondary tension is obtained. Another object is to provide a method of operation in which the primary tension is controlled in such a manner that the yarn or the like may wrap itself not only from one-fourth to one complete convolution about the storage ring but even more than one convolution, such as from one to two or more thereof without being overlapped and in which the yarn or the like, in leaving the storage ring is forced to enter a free shape or balloon flight under the influence of centrifugal force, which balloon is stable at all times unless sudden jerks are introduced by unusual tangles present in the supply package mounted in the system. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and the description thereof hereinafter.

In the drawing, which is illustrative of the invention,

Figure 1 is an axial section through a double twist uptwister provided with the improved flier and storage ring system of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a top view of the flier itself showing diagrammatically the operation of the present system in preventing overlap of yarns,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing how the yarn in prior art fliers is liable to overlap upon itself, and

Figure 4 is an axial section through a portion of a double twist spindle provided with a modified flier and storage ring system.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the multiple-twist type of twister according to the system of the invention comprises a hollow spindle 3 which is driven rotatably by means positioned at its lower end but not shown. A package holder comprising an annular base or platform 4 and a hollow sleeve 5' secured together rigidly is mounted on suitable bearings 6 and '7 on spaced shoulders on hollow spindle 3. A hood 2 may be supported on the outer rim of the package holder in conventional fashion. Conventional means, not shown, may be employed for holding the package holder in stationary position while the spindle is rotated. Various forms of such holding means are provided such as magnets mounted fixedly on or in, especially below, the platform 4 and cooperating magnets mounted below or around the periphery of the platform but spaced therefrom in such a manner as to allow the rotation of the flier and yarn balloon between the holder and the stationary magnets. The mag netic holding system is adapted to hold the package holder stationary whether the sp ndle is mounted on a vertical aXis or on an aXis inclined to the vertical. Another common system is to provide an eccentric weight on one side of the platform 4 and to incline the axis of the twister from the vertical so that the weight holds the package stationary during the rotation of the spindle. Such holding means are conventional and accordingly no attempt has been made to show them on the drawing therein.

The sleeve 5 of the package holder may be cylindrical V removably fitted securely within the upper end of the core 9 and having a bore 11 for the passage of the thread into the hollow spindle. The bore 11 is in axial alignment with the boreof the spindle 3. A spherical seat 12 is provided around the opening to the bore 11 for receiving the spherical tensioning ball 13. The particular form of the primary tension device shown is merely illustrative of numerous systems that may be employed. The particular form of the primary tension device in itself is not part of the present invention and it may be a simple tension device such as shown or it may comprise a pair of spaced tension devices supported on the cap 10, the lowermost thereof serving as a twist barrier to pre vent the twist imparted by the flier hereinafter described from backing up to the first or uppermost tension device.

Beneath the package holder there is provided a flier 14 and a storage ring or disc 15. As shown, they are separate units mounted in superimposed relation and both are rigidly fixed to the spindle 3 such as by set screws 16 and 17. An axial opening 18 is provided in the hollow spindle 3 just beneath the flier 14. The opening 18 'or it may take the form of a notch as shown. The yarn may be protected by providing a downwardly depending rim or flange 20 at the outer periphery of the flier disc 14. After the yarn emerges from the aperture 19, it proceeds to a guide 21 but it forms a balloon between the flier opening 19 and the guide 21, and in forming such balloon, the yarn winds itself more or less about the periphery of the storage ring 15. In accordance with the present invention, the periphery of the ring 15 is frusto-conical and its portion which is closest to the flier disc 14 is of less radius than the distance from the opening 19 to the center of the spindle. The angle of slope Q may be varied but is preferably about 50 to 75, about 60 being an optimum value. In this manner, the yarn leaving the opening 19 is spaced radially outwardly from the portion of the storage ring which adjoins the flier disc 14. This relationship is quite important for the reasons illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 and explained hereinbelow. The portion of the storage ring 15 wln'ch is furthest from the flier disc 14 terminates in an outwardly-extending flange, shoulder, or flier pan 22 which may extend radially outwardly or preferably is somewhat curved in the fashion shown to partially or completely overlap the space between the lowermost portion of platform 4 and the storage ring 15. This projectionextends radially outwardly to a point which is a distance not over greater than the distance from the spindle axis to the juncture of the projection with the frusto-conical surface of the storage ring and serves to prevent the yarn of the balloon from entering into the space between the platform 4 and the storage ring and winding upon the spindle 3 or around the hub of the storage ring 15, particularly in the event of yarn breakage.

In operation, the primary tension is selected, depending upon the weight of the yarn and the speed of rotation of the spindle in such a manner as to cause the yarn issuing from the aperture 19 of theflier to wrap itself from one-fourth to two or more convolutions about the storage ring 15. This primary tensionshould be greater than the tension resulting from the friction of the yarn as 4 1 it is drawn off the package 8 so that the primary tension at 13 is the controlling tension in the early stage of the passage of the yarn through the system. In starting, it will be found that the balloon formed by the yarn leaving the shoulder 22 will follow the dotted line K on its way to the guide 21. This starting balloon lightly touches both the outer edge of the shoulder 22 and the outer lower edge of the package holder. However, because of the presence of the shoulder 22, even though it is of less diameter than the diameter of the package holder, the yarn or the like is directed by centrifugal force into the form of a balloon represented by the line L and shown as a solid line. Depending on the spacing of flange 22 from the flier 14 and the angle Q, the yarn may depart from the ring 15 at a point on either the flange or the ring immediately or closely adjacent the juncture of the flange 22 with the ring 15 or at a point substantially below this juncture. The frusto-conical shape of the storage ring 15 assures that the convolutions of yarn formed thereabout will displace themselves axially along the peripheral surface so as to avoid overlap. Furthermore, the location of the aperture 19 in the flier disc 14 gives further assurance that the second convolution about the periphery of the storage disc will be displaced from an overlapping position as will be explained more particularly hereinbelow. By limiting the diameter of the shoulder 22 so that it has only 10% greater diameter than the diameter of the storage ring where it joins the shoulder, the point of discharge of the yarn, if it happens to be operating in such a way as to depart from the shoulder instead of the storage ring, cannot vary widely in respect to linear peripheral speed nor can such speed vary appreciably if the point of departure is from the storage ring. Since this factor determines the shape of the balloon, the storage ring and shoulder system provided assures a substantially stable balloon at all times. This means that the balloon when once established under the conditions of operation remains substantially of the same shape and size throughout operation and it does not contract and expand periodically and frequently as is generally true of the systems heretofore used.

The primary tension which is selected of the proper magnitude by providing a ball 13 of proper weight need not be extremely high in the present system because this tension is multiplied by the bending of the yarn around an angle of about to substantially as it proceeds through the aperture 19 in the flier 14. The secondary tension applied by the passing of the yarn around the storage ring 15 may be safely increased by increasing the convolutions because of the frusto-conical shape of the storage ring and the position of the aperture 19 radially outwardly from the juncture of the storage ring with the upper surface of the flier throughwhich the aperture extends, as will be explained more particularly hereinafter in connection with Figures 2 and 3. The prevention of overlap of the yarn or the like as it passes through the convolutions around the storage ring eliminates broken filaments and assures that uniform tension with the construction of shoulder 22 in such manner as.

to assure that the yarn or the like leaves either the ring 15 or the shoulder 22 at a point which is travelling at substantially the same linear speed, it can readily be seen why the system maintains a substantially stable balloon which does not expand and contract as was common in the past.

Figure 3 shows what happens when the inside edge of the aperture shown at 23 in a flier disc 14a is positioned right at the periphery of a cylindrical storage ring as in the conventional systems, such periphery being represented at 24. Assuming rotation of the flier 14a in the direction of the arrow, the ballooning yarn proceeds to the guide above the twister, such as 21 in Figure 1, and forms more or less of a winding about the storage ring. The first wrap around the storage ring is indicated at 25 and it will be observed that when the yarn in this wrap again approaches the opening 23, its tendency is to overlap the first layer as indicated at 26. Since the yarn laid down in the first convolution or lap around the periphery 24 may present a rounded periphery to the next convolution, the next convolution may as likely tend to jam itself between the hump of the first convolution 25 and the surface of the flier as it is to roll to the other side of the first convolution. When a so-called flat yarn (i. e. an untwisted yarn) or a very low twist yarn of synthetic or artificial filaments of which yarn having only two to three turns per inch and produced by collection in a centrifugal spinning pot is typical, the continuous filaments of the yarn tend to lay out in a flat ribbon and there is little or no tendency whatsoever to cause the next convolution at 26 to move out of direct overlapping relationship upon the first convolution at 25'. Consequently, the tendency of such flat yarns is in general to pile up convolution after convolution directly in overlapping relationship, the total number of convolutions depending upon the tension relationships under which the system is operating. It has been found that this overlap, particularly in the case of flat yarns, results in poor control of tension and in actual breaking of the yarns because of the frictional rubbing and snubbing action between overlapped portions.

Figure 2 shows how the present invention assures that the second convolution of the yarn about the periphery 24 of the flier ring is prevented from overlapping the first when the system of the present invention is employed in which the inside edge of the aperture 19 is displaced radially outwardly from the periphery 24 where the storage ring joins the surface of the flier disc 14. As shown, assuming rotation in the direction of the arrow, the yarn proceeding from the aperture 19 takes a substantially tangential path 27 to the periphery 24 of the storage ring. The dotted outline of the yarn at 28 shows how the yarn in the balloon approaches the second convolution about the storage ring and it will be observed that this yarn m-ust ride over the portion 27 before it can reach the periphery of the disc to start the second convolution of the wrapping about the storage disc. Since the yarn must ride over the portion 27 and is thereby lifted to a position above the first convolution, the next wrap of yarn is displaced axially from the first convolution and it makes no difference whether the yarn is of the flat" type or of the round type. Thus, the disposition of the aperture 19 in accordance with the present invention cooperates with the frustoconical periphery of the storage ring and serves positively to prevent the overlapping of the yarn convolutions as they proceed about the storage ring on their way to the formation of the balloon.

The yarn in wrapping around the storage ring provides a snubbing action which equalizes tensions which occur during the twisting operation. In prior devices in which the yarn emerges directly from a passage in the flier at the periphery of the storage ring, the second wrap frequently overlaps the first wrap of yarn. The resulting snubbing action is so great that the yarn cannot be drawn from the supply package by the centrifugal force of the balloon and as a result numerous breaks occur in operation. Also, in prior devices when the yarn is held away from the stationary package by a large flier pan, the yarn rubs over the under-side surface of the pan for a considerable distance and this causes broken filaments. Also, because of the widely difierent peripheral speeds of the various points of the pan traversed by the yarn as it passes into the balloon, there is produced an unsteady balloon, i. e., the balloon changes in diameter vary rapidly and this change in size of the balloon results in a different weight of yarn extending in the balloon from the storage ring to the guide eye 21 which results in variation in twist. It has been found that to obtain a steady balloon and uniform twist, the balloon as it leaves the storage ring must be free to take a shape due to the speed of the spindle and weight of yarn in the balloon and not touch any fixed part or any moving part that has a greatly differing linear speed. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a storage ring that prevents overlapping of the yarn and another is to provide a balloon that upon leaving the storage disc is substantially free to seek its own form. This latter object is elfected by providing a shoulder or flange adjoining the large diameter portion of the storage ring and having a diameter which is not more than 19% greater than the diameter of the storage ring at its juncture with the flange or shoulder. The former object is, of course, obtained by the frusto-conical shape of the storage ring and the disposition of the aperture 19 (or 19a) radially outwardly from the small diameter portion of the frusto-conical peripheral surface of the storage ring.

Figure 4 represents a modification in which the flier disc and storage ring are of integral construction. As shown, the integral unit comprises a hub 29 secured by a set screw 30 to the spindle 3. In this embodiment, the flier is provided with a radial passage 31 which at its inner end communicates with the opening 18 in the hollow spindle 3. Projecting from one side of the flier is a flange of compound curvature comprising a frustoconical portion 32 directly adjoining the flier proper. This portion 32 is connected to a generally radially extending portion or shoulder 33 which in turn is connected to a generally axially extending cylindrical portion 34, the latter being connected to the outwardly projecting annular flange 35. The flange 35 may be strictly radial or a curved flange as is the case with the flange 22 in Figure l. The shoulder 33 of this embodiment readily corresponds in function to the shoulder 22 of Figure l insofar as the balloon control is concerned. To accomplish this purpose properly in accordance with the invention, its outer diameter (i. e., the diameter of the cylindrical surface 34) should not be more than 10% greater than the diameter of the storage ring at its juncture with the shoulder. The shoulder 33 may extend radially outwardly to an abrupt right-angled juncture with the portion 34, the lower outer corner edge being smoothly rounded off, or 33 may be a circular are or other curve tangent to a plane normal to the spindle axis and gradually curving into its juncture with the portion 34. This form of flier does not require as large a diameter for the flier portion thereof or of the portion 32. Also, the combined flier, storage ring and projecting flange may be of less height than the embodiment in Figure 1. Generally this construction results in a lowering of the tension and an even more stable balloon than is the case with Figure 1. As in the embodiment of Figure l, the opening 19a in the flier proper is radially outwardly spaced from the periphery of the portion 32 where it joins the flier proper. Holding magnets may be mounted on the under-surface of holder platform 4 in the annular space 36.

The operation of the system of Figure 4 is quite similar to that of the embodiment of Figure 1, the balloon in starting taking the dotted line position at M and in operation the full line position at N. The flange 35, like flange 22 in the embodiment of Figure 1, serves to prevent wrapping of yarn around the spindle 3 or the hub 29 where it is relatively inaccessible on occasions of breakage.

The term yarn is intended as a generic term to include all types of yarns, cords. strands, and filamentary bundles, whether of continuous filaments or staple fiber and whether twisted or untwisted and whether of organic or inorganic materials, including metallic fibers, used in textile or industrial applications.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A multiple-twist type of twister for twisting a yarn or the like comprising a rotary spindle, a package holder on the spindle, tension means on the twister for tensioning the yarn passing between the package and the spindle, a flier fixed on the spindle, a yarn storage ring adjoining the flier between the flier and the package holder and having a smaller diameter than that of the flier at its juncture with the flier, a yarn passage in the spindle, a yarn-guiding passage in the flier spaced radially outwardly from the juncture between the flier and ring, a frusto-conical surface on the ring along which the yarn is guided after it leaves the yarn-guiding passage in the flier, the small diameter portion of the frustoconical surfaces being adjacent the flier, and an outwardly projecting flange extending from the ring to a radius greater than, but not more than 10% greater than, that of the juncture of the ring with the flange.

2. A multiple-twist type of twister for twisting a yarn or the like comprising a rotary spindle, a package holder on the spindle, tension means on the twister for tensioning the yarn passing between the package and the spindle, a flier fixed on the spindle, a yarn storage ring adjoining the flier between the flier and the package holder and having a smaller diameter than that of the flier at its juncture with the'flier, a yarn passage in the spindle, a yarnguiding passage in the flier spaced radially outwardly from the juncture between the flier and ring, a frusto-conical surface on the ring along which the yarn is guided after it leaves the yarn-guiding passage in the flier, the small diameter portion of the frusto-conical surface being adjacent the flier, and an outwardly projecting flange extending from the ring to a radius greater than, but not more than 10% greater than, that of the juncture of the ring with the flange, the flange curving in a direction away from the flier.

3. A multiple-twist type of twister for twisting a yarn or the like comprising a rotary spindle, a package holder on the spindle, tension means on the twister for tensioning the yarn passing between the package and the spindle, a flier fixed on the spindle, a yarn storage ring having a frusto-conical peripheral yarn-guiding surface adjoining the flier and extending between the flier and the package holder with its smaller diameter portion adjacent the flier and less than the diameter of the flier, a yarn passage in the spindle, a yarn-guiding passage in the flier spaced radially outwardly from the juncture between the flier and the, ring, the flier having a surface along which the yarn is guided as it passes between the aforesaid passages, the flier and the ring being formed together integrally and having an integral outwardly projecting shoulder extending from the ring to a radius greater than, but not over 10% greater than, that of the juncture of the ring with the shoulder.

4. .A multiple-twist type of twister for twisting a yarn or the like comprising a rotary spindle, a package holder on the spindle, tension means on the twister for tensioning the yarn passing between the package and the spindle, a flier fixed on the spindle, a frusto-conical yarn storage ring adjoining the flier between the flier and the package holder and having its small diameter portion adjacent to the flier and smaller than that of theflier at its juncture with the flier, a yarn passage in the spindle, a yarnguiding passage in the flier spaced radially outwardly from the juncture between the flier and the ring, and a radial bore in the flier extending from an inner end communicating with the passage in the spindle to an outer end in communication with the passage in the flier thereby providing a surface along which the yarn is guided as it passes between the passages.

5. A multiple-twist type of twister for twisting a yarn or the like comprising a rotary spindle, a package holder on the spindle, tension means on the twister for tensioning the yarn passing between the package and the spindle, a flier fixed on the spindle, a frusto-conical yarn storage ring adjoining the flier between the flier and the package holder and having its small diameter portion adjacent to the flier and smaller than that Of the flier at its juncture with the flier, a yarn passage in the spindle, a yarn-guiding passage in the flier spaced radially outwardly from the juncture between the flier and the ring, and the flier having a surface along which the yarn is guided as it passes between the passages, said surface being a radially-extending bottom surface of the flier.

6. A multiple-twist type of twister for twisting a yarn or the like comprising a rotary spindle, a package holder on the spindle, tension means on the twister for tensioning the yarn passing between the package and the spindle.

and being supported axially outwardly from the spindle, a flier fixed on the spindle, a frusto-conical yarn storage ring adjoining the flier between the flier and the package holder and having its small diameter portion adjacent to the flier, said portion being smaller in diameter than the flier at its juncture with the flier, a yarn passage in the spindle, a yarn-guiding passage in the flier spaced radially outwardly from the juncture between the flier and the ring, the flier having a surface along which the yarn is guided as it passes between the passages, said surface being a radially-extending bottom surface of the flier, and the flier having an axially extending rirn on its side away from the side adjacent the ring.

7. A multiple-twist type of twister for twisting a yarn or the like comprising a rotary spindle, a package holder on the spindle, tension means on the twister for tensioning the yarn passing between the package and the spindle, a.

flier fixed on the spindle, a yarn storage ring having a frusto-conical yarn-guiding and -storage peripheral surface adjoining the flier and extending between the flier and the package holder with its smaller diameter portion adjacent the flier and less in diameter than the flier, a yarn passage in the spindle, a yarn-guiding passage in the flier spaced radially outwardly from the juncture between the flier and the ring, and an annular member having a radially-extending surface extendingfrom the larger diameter portion of the ring and having a generally axially-extending surface extending from the radially-extending surface in a direction away from the flier, said axially-extending surface being not over 10% greater in diameter than the large diameter of the ring.

8. A multiple-twist.type of twister for twisting a yarn or the like comprising a rotary spindle, a package holder on the spindle, tension means on the twister for'tensioning the yarn passing between the package and the spindle, a flier fixed on the spindle, a yarn storage ring having a frusto-conical yarn-guiding and storage peripheral sur-- face adjoining the flier and extending between the flier and the package holder with its smaller diameter portion adjacent the flier and less in diameter thanthe flier, a yarn passage in the spindle, a yarn-guiding passage in the flier spaced radially outwardly from the juncture between the flier and the ring, and an annular member having a radially-extending surface extending from the larger-diameter portion of the ring and having a generally axially-extending surface extending from the radially-extending surface, said axially-extending surface being not over 10% greater in diameter than the large diameter of the ring, andan outwardly extending flange extending from the axiallyextending surface.

9. A multiple-twist type of twister for twisting a yarn or the like comprising a rotary spindle, a package holder on the spindle, tension means on the twister for tensioning the yarn passing between the package and the spindle, a flier disc fixed on the spindle, a storage ring fixed on the spindle having an annular frusto-conical yarn storage peripheral surface extending from a small diameter circle on one side of the flier disc toward a large diameter circle near the package holder, the small diameter of the storage surface being smaller than the diameter of the flier disc,

guide means on the flier disc for discharging a yarn inwardly to the ring, and a yarn'passage in the spindle aligned with the guide means to provide a passage for the yarn from the bore of the spindle to the guide means.

10. A twister as defined in claim 9 in which said portion of the guide means is a notch in the periphery of the flier disc having a portion radially outwardly spaced from the said first-mentioned circle.

11. A twister as defined in claim 9 in which the'angle of slope of the frusto-conical surface is between 50 and 5 75.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fane Apr. 12, 1949 Kingsbury Aug. 16, 1949 Agresti Dec. 19, 1950 Roberts July 10, 1951 Cochran July 17, 1951 Cochran Dec. 11, 1951 

